Fourth measles death reported in Pennsylvania as unvaccinated teen dies of rare complication
Pennsylvania health officials have confirmed a fourth and fifth measles death this year, including an unvaccinated 18-year-old who died of a rare neurological complication, as the state's case count nears 700.
Pennsylvania's health department confirmed this week that two more residents have died from measles, bringing the state's total death toll from this year's outbreak to four, with a fifth case also disclosed. The newest fatality is an unvaccinated 18-year-old from Mifflin County, while a coroner in Jefferson County separately reported over the weekend that an unvaccinated 40-year-old woman had also died of the disease.
The state had earlier reported two other measles deaths in Lancaster County, both infants — a newborn boy and a six-week-old girl — who were too young to have received the MMR vaccine.
A rare complication
According to Mifflin County coroner Andrea L. Alcalde, the teenager's death was caused by acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, or ADEM, a rare but recognized severe complication of measles infection. The condition is an autoimmune disorder that progresses rapidly, in which inflammation triggered by the infection damages the protective coverings of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. Before widespread vaccination, ADEM was frequently linked to measles specifically, although other viral illnesses can also cause it. Alcalde said the determination followed a review of medical records and that no further details about the teen would be released.
Outbreak continues to grow
Pennsylvania has now recorded 693 measles cases across 38 counties this year, including 99 in the past week alone, with 133 people hospitalized. The two latest deaths are set to be added to the state's outbreak dashboard in Wednesday's regular update.
State Health Secretary Debra Bogen offered condolences to the families of the two most recently deceased, describing the situation as the worst measles outbreak Pennsylvania has faced in more than three decades. She said health authorities remain focused on working with partners statewide to contain the spread and prevent further deaths, including by ensuring residents have accurate information about measles and access to the MMR vaccine, which has long kept outbreaks in check.
